32 holiday events in metro Phoenix

People across the Valley this weekend begin to celebrate the holiday season. The region has plenty of activities for the celebration. Here is a sampling of what the holidays have to offer.

Chandler

Tumbleweed Tree Lighting, Parade of Lights and Santa's House

The Chandler tradition, in its 58th year, features a 25-foot-tall wire frame covered in nearly 1,000 tumbleweeds painted white, dusted with glitter and decked with 1,200 lights. Dance and performing-arts groups and an ugly-sweater contest will entertain you as you await the 7 p.m. Parade of Lights, followed by the tree lighting by Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and City Council members at 8 p.m. Santa's House will offer free pictures with Santa and entertainment on various dates through Dec. 20.

Details: 4:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; on display through Sunday, Jan. 11. Downtown Chandler and Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave. Free. 480-782-2735, chandleraz.gov/tumbleweedtree.

'The SnowCat'

An ancient Asian parable lends its title of this family show, a mix of music, storytelling and visual art created by Arizona jazz flugelhornist and composer Dmitri Matheny.

Details: 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. $8. 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org.

Gilbert
Morrison Ranch Mrs. Claus' Holiday Party
Join Mrs. Claus for: cookie decorating, making holiday crafts, hot chocolate, train rides, boutique vendors, food trucks, and performances by The Dance Republic & GJHS Jazz Band.
Details: Thursday, Dec. 4 5:30pm-8pm at Highland Groves South Lake Park. FREE Event! RSVP to http://tinyurl.com/koapgp2

'A Christmas Carol'

Traditional noels add musical cheer to Hale Centre Theatre's 11th annual staging of Charles Dickens' classic tale, in which the original holiday humbug, Ebenezer Scrooge, learns the true meaning of Christmas after a late-night horror show put on by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

Details: Thursday, Dec. 4, through Wednesday, Dec. 24. Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. $16-$28. 480-497-1181, haletheatrearizona.com.

'Christmas with the Nelsons'

Ricky Nelson's twin sons, Matthew and Gunnar, offer a multimedia evening that blends elements of their touring "Ricky Nelson Remembered" show with seasonal tunes.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. Higley Center for the Performing Arts, 4132 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert. $34-$60.20. 480-279-7194, higleyarts.org

The Alley Cats: 'Jingle Bell Rock'

These doo-wop revivalists got together at Fullerton College in California and landed their first professional gig at Disneyland's "Blast to the Past." These days, they're Jay Leno's opening act in Las Vegas. They've also won two Contemporary A Cappella Society awards: best album for "The Doo-Wop Drive-In Live" and best song for "What's Your Name."

Details: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Higley Center for the Performing Arts, 4132 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert. $22-$43.40. 480-279-7194, higleyarts.org.

Glendale

Glendale Glitters

Meander through 16 blocks of historic downtown Glendale, which will be transformed into a winter wonderland illuminated by 1.5 million lights for the 21st year. Themed events will be featured 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Saturday, Dec. 20. Lights will be on through the Glitter & Glow Block Party on Saturday, Jan. 11; there will be free shuttles 4:15-10:15 p.m. to the block party from the parking lot at Glendale Community College, 6000 W. Olive Ave.

Details: 5-11 p.m. nightly through Saturday, Jan. 10. Glendale and 58th avenues. Free. 623-930-2299, www.glendaleaz.com/glitters.

Mesa

LDS Mesa Arizona Temple

The annual Southeast Valley tradition will feature palm trees wrapped from top to bottom in thousands of lights, a nativity scene and illuminated gardens. Messages can be heard in English and Spanish, and local music groups and individuals will perform for 30 minutes at 7 p.m. Dec. 1-25. Early arrival is recommended for these concerts; space is limited.

Details: 5-10 p.m. nightly through Wednesday, Dec. 31. 525 E. Main St. Free. 480-964-7164, mesachristmaslights.com.

'Miracle on 34th Street'

Meredith Willson, creator of "The Music Man," adapted this classic Christmas flick for Broadway in 1963 as "Here's Love." Now, it's back to the original title, but it's the same song-and-dance retelling of the modern parable about a department-store Santa who claims to be the real thing.

Details: Through Thursday, Dec. 25. The Palms Theatre, 5247 E. Brown Road, Mesa. $47-$54 including meal; $22 ages 18 and under; $30-$35 show only. 480-924-6260, thepalmstheatre.com.

'Elf'

A boy grows up at the North Pole to be Santa's tallest little helper in this 2010 Broadway musical based on the hit film comedy starring Will Ferrell. The finale features the ensemble tap-dancing on its their knees, as no actual elves auditioned for the show.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 2-3. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $40-$80. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.

Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour

The smooth-jazz sax man has made a tradition out of his seasonal tour. This year, he's joined by '80s survivor Christopher Cross, jazz singer Maysa and and guitar whiz/vocalist Jonathan Butler.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $52-$82. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.

An Irish Christmas

This year's special guests include Kevin Horton and "Riverdance" and "Magic of the Dance" stars Ciaran Maguire and Collette Dunne, known as "the fastest feet in the business." The show promises "dancing through the generations over brooms, on half doors, around butter churns and shoemakers, into the world of mythology and out again; singing that spins itself out of the mists and into the familiar 'Silent Night,' 'Little Drummer Boy' and 'Carol of the Bells,' and superb music of the pipes, flutes, fiddles, button accordion and bodhráns."

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $33. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.

Symphony of the Southwest

Selections from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" suite highlight the holiday program by this community orchestra formerly known as the Mesa Symphony Orchestra.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $19. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com, symphonyofthesouthwest.org.

Christmas Lights at Red Mountain Community Church

You can't miss 500,000 lights illuminating this church if you're traveling Loop 202/Red Mountain Freeway at about Recker Road. Stop and see the lights up close, including lighted animals, a horse-drawn sleigh and wagon. Hot chocolate and cookies are served Friday and Saturday nights. When you arrive, a sign will provide the FM dial position where you'll hear narration. Lights will remain on through Dec. 30 but may be off if it rains.

Details: 5-10:30 p.m. nightly through Dec. 30. 6101 E. Virginia St., Mesa. 480-807-5868, rmcchurch.org/events.

Salt River Brass

Founded in 1988, the Tempe-based community ensemble's annual holiday pops program mixes popular tunes, such as "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," with classical selections, such as Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Shostakovich's "Festive Overture" and Biebl's "Ave Maria." That's Franz Biebl, the 20th-century German composer, not Justin Bieber.

Details: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $15-$22. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com, saltriverbrass.com.

Phoenix

ZooLights

The Phoenix Zoo will be lit with 3.8 million lights and 700 dazzling displays. Music in Motion shows featuring tunes from the movie "The Polar Express" and "Carol of the Bells" by Arctic Express are new this year. A 300-pound block of ice will be sculpted into an animal on select nights. Available for an additional fee are a new multisensory 4-D theater with fog, snow and wind; a carousel; wagon rides; and the Stingray Bay touch tank. Alcoholic beverages are offered Friday and Saturday nights. Avoid the crowds and go Mondays-Wednesdays, before Dec. 14 or visit in January.

Details: 5:30-10:30 p.m. nightly through Sunday, Jan. 11. 455 N. Galvin Parkway. $8-$12 value tickets (some dates excluded)CQ, $14-$18CQ "any night" tickets, free for 2 or younger; additional fee for activities. 602-273-1341, phoenixzoo.org/zoolights.

Las Noches de las Luminarias

Following the Hispanic Christmas tradition, brown bags containing lighted candles line the garden's paths, creating a peaceful and romantic glow amid the saguaros and other desert flora. Mariachi Pasión, Pick and Holler, the Sahnas Brothers and handbell ringers are among the performers you'll hear throughout the garden each night. Bars are stationed around the garden for those 21 or older. Dine at Gertrude's restaurant; a buffet and cafe also are available.

Details: 5:30-9:30 p.m., Nov. 28-29 and Friday-Saturday, Dec. 12-13; Friday-Sunday, Dec. 19-23 and 26-30. Dec. 5-6 is for garden members only. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. $10-$30. 480-481-8188, dbg.org/luminaria.

APS Electric Light Parade

The streets of central Phoenix will be filled with floats, each covered in 2,000 dazzling lights in a Holidays in Toyland theme. You'll also see marching bands, lighted balloons, performance units and Santa. Grab a seat early along the parade route, which starts at Central and Montebello avenues, travels south to Camelback Road, then east to Seventh Street, where it turns south again and ends at Indian School Road. Blankets, chairs and coolers are permitted, but glass containers, pets and alcohol are not allowed. If you take the light rail, exit Central/Camelback. Get a sneak peek at motorized entries lit up for judging just north of the church 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5; kids can enjoy activities and meet Santa Claus.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Parade begins at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave. Free. 602-534-3378, phoenix.gov/parks.

Ballet Arizona: 'The Nutcracker'

Artistic director Ib Andersen, among the last protégés of the great choreographer George Balanchine, reconceived his company's annual holiday treat in 2006. The $1.8 million production, of course, features lovely dancing, but the emphasis is on spectacle, with 260 costumes, 25 backdrops, 200 pounds of falling "snow" and 100,000 Swarovski crystals to make the blizzard really sparkle. Reviewing the new version's premiere, The Republic's Richard Nilsen raved, "Over and over, some coup de theatre leaves the audience gasping, as when the entire back of the stage drops away in a skein of floating red silk to reveal the Sugar Plum Fairy behind."

Details: Friday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 28. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. $15-$168. 602-381-1096, balletaz.org.

Festival of Lights Display

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of volunteers and the Ahwatukee Foothills community, more than a million miniature white LED lights again will illuminate the desert landscape and treetops along Chandler Boulevard through New Year's Day.

Details: Display 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, nightly through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Along Chandler Boulevard from 24th Street to Desert Foothills Parkway, Phoenix. Free. folaz.org.

Pinal County

Holiday Festival and Parade

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley Queen Creek branch and the Kiwanis Club of Queen Creek host this annual festival and parade. The festival kicks off at 2 p.m., followed by a parade at 3 and tree lighting ceremony at 6. More than 80 vendors, a petting zoo, food and Santa Claus will be featured.

Details: 2-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Queen Creek Library, 21802 S. Ellsworth Road. Free. 480-313-3329, queencreekparade.org.

Loop of Lights

More than 80 households in one San Tan Valley subdivision decorate with displays that range from small to those covering a property. A Neighborhood Loop Light Parade is 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, unless it rains. The loop will close to vehicle traffic Dec. 13-25 (with some exceptions), but parking is offered at nearby schools on Pecan Creek Drive. A new trolley shuttle will transport you from nearby J.O. Combs Middle School on select nights and booths operated by "Loopateers" will feature Santa and such snacks as popcorn and hot cocoa. Donations are encouraged and will go to Johnjay and Rich's Christmas Wish program.

Details: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5-Wednesday, Dec. 25; parade 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Waverly Subdivision, Pecan Creek Drive and Carolina Avenue, San Tan Valley. Free. loopoflights.com.

Tempe

Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade

Stake out your spot on the shores of Tempe Town Lake for this event featuring as many as 50 boats decorated in dazzling holiday-light displays. Park sidewalks and paths will be lit by more than 1,000 luminaria, preparing for Santa Claus' big arrival at 6 p.m., followed by the boat parade at 7. Fireworks will top off the evening. No viewing will be allowed from the Mill Avenue Bridge. There will be food and beverage vendors.

Details: 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Tempe Beach Park, Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway. Free for spectators. 480-355-6060, downtowntempe.com.

Mannheim Steamroller

The project began as an alias for producer/composer Chip Davis, whose calling card at that point was earning a co-writing credit on "Convoy," a novelty hit about CB radio slang by C.W. McCall. But this new project was nothing like country — a blend of classical, light jazz and rock. The first Steamroller album, "Fresh Aire," hit the streets on Jan.1, 1975, going on to be certified gold. But it wasn't until Davis hit on the idea of taking that approach to Christmas that things really started taking off with "Christmas" becoming the first of four multiplatinum seasonal efforts.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26. ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe. $36-$101. 480-965-3434, ticketmaster.com

Pollack Tempe Cinema Shopping Center

Valley real-estate mogul Michael Pollack promises, "This year's holiday display will absolutely be the most outrageous and over-the-top display I have ever done at my Tempe Cinemas." Hundreds of thousands of festive LED lights and several large animations will be lighting up the southeastern corner of McClintock Drive and Elliot Road nightly through Jan. 1.

Details: Through Jan. 1. 1825 E. Elliot Road, Tempe. 480-345-6461, pollacktempecinemas.com.

'Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!'

America's favorite first-grade brat is back at Childsplay, Tempe's acclaimed professional theater for young audiences. Based on the popular picture books by the late Barbara Park, this kiddie comedy finds Junie faced with a tough decision when she reaches into the Secret Santa hat and pulls out the name of her archenemy, Tattletale May.

Details: Through Sunday, Dec. 28. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $12-$25. 480-350-2822, childsplayaz.org.

12th annual Organ Christmas Concert

Kimberly Marshall, Arizona State University's Goldman professor of organ and the 1985 winner of the St. Albans Competition, shows off her keyboard skills — and those of her students — at Organ Hall, home to a Fritts & Co. organ with 1,900 pipes, as well as an Italian Baroque organ built by Domenico Traeri in 1742.

Details: 2:30 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Organ Hall, ASU School of Music, Mill Avenue and Gammage Parkway, Tempe. $8-$19. 480-965-6447, music.asu.edu/events.

Valley wide

Phoenix Symphony: Handel's 'Messiah'

New music director Tito Muñoz takes his first turn leading the orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony Chorus in annual performances of this oratorio about the life of Jesus by Baroque composer George Frideric Handel. "HAAAAA-le-lu-jah!"

Details: 602-495-1999, phoenixsymphony.org.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.10. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $29-$49.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec.12. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $25-$49.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec.13. Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley. $39.

3 p.m. Sunday, Dec.14. Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, 25150 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. $49.

A Phoenix Boys Choir Holiday'

The acclaimed chorus, which has been performing since 1949, performs the multicultural "A World of Carols," Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus and an enactment of the classic poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas," aka " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Details: $18-$28. 602-264-5328, ext. 21; boyschoir.org.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec.13. St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix.

6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec.15. American Lutheran Church, 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec.19. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St.

7:30 Saturday, Dec.20. Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley.

5 p.m. Sunday, Dec.21. Chaparral Christian Church, 6451 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale.

Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix: 'Holidays with Orpheus'

The chorus is older than the state, having made its debut in 1900. The group now boasts more than 75 members. The group's holiday shows usually include such familiar fare as "Carol of the Bells" and "Sleigh Ride."

Details: $15-$20; free for age 12 and younger. 602-271-9396, orpheus.org.

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, Velda Rose United Methodist Church, 5540 E. Main St., Mesa.

3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley.

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, All Saints Lutheran Church, 15649 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. $15-$20; free for age 12 and younger. 602-271-9396, orpheus.org.

Ballet Etudes: 'The Nutcracker'

Founded in Gilbert in 1986, Ballet Etudes is the best-known of several dance schools that mount an annual production of Tchaikovsky's Christmas classic.

Details: balletetudes.net. Friday, Through Sunday, Dec. 7. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. $25-$29. 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org.7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $23-$28. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.

Vestar Holiday Displays

Holiday displays and entertainment are offered for shoppers tackling their lists at these three Vestar-managed properties: Tempe Marketplace at Loop 202 and McClintock Drive; Desert Ridge Marketplace at Loop 101 and Tatum Boulevard in Phoenix; and Westgate Entertainment District at Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue in Glendale. Huge trees are decorated and will be lit at all three through New Year's Day. Falling snow, a snow day, Menorah lighting, ice skating, carriage rides, live music, story times and coat drives for charities are among the activities depending on the center you visit.

Details: tempemarketplace.com/holiday, shopdesertridge.com/holiday, westgateaz.com/holiday.

The Republic | azcentral.com 6:01 a.m. MST November 28, 2014